Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Norwood vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Danvers | Dedham | Norwood | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237 |
31,542Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwood and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
— |
| Norwood and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Norwood | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Norwood High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.